Method and apparatus for coordinating a radio network controller and node b resource management for high speed downlink packet data service

ABSTRACT

The architecture of the high-speed shared service provides a Node B yielding various sets of information that answer a set of basic questions that a data service needs. Many potential measurements the Node B can make are provided to the RNC to enable a resource manager to perform certain functions and which can be used to answer the set of basic questions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/965,702, filed on Aug. 13, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/321,308, filed on Dec. 17, 2002 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,619,718 on Dec. 31, 2013, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/370,739, filed onApr. 5, 2002, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The inventor relates to radio resource management in a wirelesscommunication system. More particularly the invention relates tocommunication of data necessary for resource management in high speeddownlink packet access service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In 3^(rd) generation cellular systems for TDD and FDD almost allresources are fully allocated and controlled by the Controlling RadioNetwork Controller (C-RNC) that controls the Node B radio resources. ForDedicated Channels (DCH) the C-RNC allocates a fixed amount of resourcesfrom the resource pool and assigns it to service the DCH. An example ofa DCH service is voice services. For data type services, the CRNC canallocate Downlink Shared Channels (DSCH). Examples of a DSCH service aredata services such as Web download, file transfer protocol (Ftp)services or e-mail. Multiple users share this channel over time, and thescheduling of this channel, for example, which user gets access to thechannel, is performed in the C-RNC.

These resources are managed by the C-RNC which can decide how much ofthe resources of a cell is allocated to DCH services and how much isallocated to DSCH services because each resource can only serve one typeof service (DCH or DSCH) at a single moment, however resources can bemoved back and forth between the two resource pools as is needed.

An additional complexity occurs in the resource allocation of the DSCHin the C-RNC since it is a shared resource that handles multipleservices of variable data rates. The maximum amount of resources thatare requested by the sum of the users can frequently exceed the amountof the resources in the pool allocated to this type of service. This ispossible since all users statistically will not want to transmit at itshighest allowed rate simultaneously. Therefore, data service users needto be monitored to determine not only that the radio resources areutilized efficiently but also that the users are not excessivelyover-provisioned on the available resource, since either condition wouldcause the users Quality of Service (QoS) to deteriorate.

The C-RNC must answer the following general questions to have optimalknowledge of the operation of the high-speed downlink packet access(HSDPA) service. The first question is, how well is the QoS requirementfulfilled for each user? Particularly, it would need to determinewhether all of the operational parameters are set to optimal levels forboth the shared and dedicated services. The second question is how wellare the overall resources utilized by the two types of services(dedicated and shared service)? Is there an optimal resource splitbetween dedicated and shared services given the current usage/demand ofeach service?

Yet another question is how much does it cost the overall systemperformance by adding a user of certain QoS requirement to the cell?This is particularly an issue for shared services where the servicerates a user really needs are usually variable over time and theresource allocated to the user is usually over-provisioned.

In most services the C-RNC can readily answer these questions. For aparticular user with dedicated service, the C-RNC allocates a fixedamount of resources since the amount of resource used by the user ispretty static over time. For a user of variable data rates with sharedservice, the C-RNC has enough information to understand how wellresources are being used among the users.

However, the High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) service uses anew channel; a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) to providehigher data rates for data services than the DSCH. The HS-DSCH serviceis based on the Node B more dynamically adapting the transmission tobetter service the users that have data to be transmitted. Therefore theC-RNC no longer schedules the data to be transmitted at a particularmoment or the actual resources used for that transmission. The C-RNCbasically assigns a given amount of power and the resources in the dataresource pool to the Node B and the Node B dynamically schedules theusers' data based on current radio conditions.

The consequences of this architecture change in the functionality ofdata services in the C-RNC leaves it without some of the basicinformation it has had for other services. Consequently, questions askedbefore such as: (1) how well the QoS has been fulfilled; (2) the overallresource utilization; and (3) the effect of adding a user to the system,cannot be completely answered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The architecture of the high-speed shared service means that the Node Bhas various sets of information that answer the three (3) sets of basicquestions that a data service would need to have answered. The presentinvention provides an HSDPA-capable Node B with a scheduler providinginformation enabling a resource manager to efficiently allocateresources.

Embodiments may include a wireless device. The wireless device mayinclude: circuitry configured to receive a first allocation of power fornon-real time services sent by a radio network controller; circuitryconfigured to derive a second allocation of power for real timeservices; and circuitry configured to determine physical channels foruse in transmitting high speed packet data of a user based on the firstand second power allocations.

Embodiments may also include a method. The method may include:receiving, by a first wireless device, a first allocation of power fornon-real time services sent by a radio network controller; deriving, bythe first wireless device, a second allocation of power for real timeservices; and determining, by the first wireless device, physicalchannels for use in transmitting high speed packet data of a user basedon the first and second power allocations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be understood from a consideration of thefigures, wherein like elements are designated by like numerals andwherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing a radio network controller (RNC)interfaced with a Node B wherein FIG. 1 lacks a high-speed, downlinkshared channel (HS-DSCH) and FIG. 2 has an HS-DSCH channel.

FIG. 3 shows an RNC interface with a Node B having an HS-DSCH channeland embodying the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

High speed downlink packet data access (HSDPA) has been provided toincrease capacity, reduce round-trip delay and increase peak data ratesthrough a high speed down link shared channel (HS-DSCH). In addition,(3) fundamental technologies which are tightly coupled and rely on therapid adaptation of the transmission parameters to instantaneous radioconditions include:

-   -   (a) fast link adaptation technology enabling the use of        modifications in modulation responsive to channel conditions        such as fading peak and fading dip;    -   (b) fast hybrid automatic-repeat-request (ARQ) technology for        rapidly requesting retransmission of missing data entities and        combining soft information from original transmission and any        subsequent retransmissions before any attempts are made to        decode the message; and    -   (c) fast scheduling of users sharing the HS-DSCH which, through        multi-user diversity is able to transmit the users with        favorable radio conditions.

The technologies employed by HSDPA utilized rapid adaptation oftransmission of parameters to match channel conditions and functionssuch as fast link adaptation and fast scheduling are thus placed closeto the air interface, namely at the Node B, causing parts of thefunctionality previously performed at the radio network controller (RNC)to be moved to the Node B, forming a new Node B entity, MAC-HSDPA.Extending the features of the Node B in this manner provides a highlyreliable channel that supports high data rates.

FIGS. 1-3 show a typical implementation and the various message flowsnecessary for proper radio resource management (RRM) functionality. FIG.1 is a diagram showing the related art before HSDPA was created. FIG. 2is a diagram showing the related art interacting with the HSDPA changes.FIG. 3 is a diagram showing correct functionality employing the conceptof the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an RNC 12 and Node B 14, and some of the high levelfunctions and messaging necessary for proper functionality of RRMallocation of real time (RT) and non-real time (NRT) services. Thedefined functions and messaging within a Node (RNC or Node B) is highlydependent on implementation. Within a node, the labeled functions can beperformed by separate processors, or can be within a combined taskperforming the tasks of more than one function and the tasks thatperform these functions may perform other functions unrelated to thisinvention. Between the RNC 12 and Node B 14 is the standardized Iubinterface 16, and thus the messaging is formally defined within theappropriate standards.

Function 1 (F1) is the RT and NRT Resource manager 18. This functionperforms the traffic balance functions giving out the pool of resourcesto real time (RT) and non-real time (NRT) functions plus performing thecall admission control function, which determines, given the currentload, whether the cell can accommodate a new user of a particular type,data rate and QoS attributes.

Function 2 (F2) is the Real Time Scheduler 20. The real time scheduler20 is responsible for assigning resources to real time subscribers likevoice users. Given the type of traffic, the allocations are usuallystatic once assigned.

Function 3 (F3) is the Non-Real Time Scheduler 22. The non-real timescheduler is responsible for assigning resources for each burst of datafor non-real time users. Given the type of traffic, the allocations arerelatively frequent and many would occur for the typical non-real timecall.

Function 4 (F4) is the Physical Layer 24. Layer 24 performs all of thephysical air interface functions to properly send the user's data overthe air interface. The resources used for each transmission are assignedby the Real Time or Non-Real Time schedulers.

Each of the functions F1 to F3 communicate to each of the otherfunctions F1 to F3 using some type of message sets. These sets can beformally defined by the standards (e.g. message sets that travel overthe Iub interface) or can be internally defined and thus implementationspecific. In fact, in an implementation using a single task performingmore than one function, the communication can be trivial. It should benoted, however, that this implementation just concerns the logicalmessages that need to be passed between functions. It should also benoted that these functions, even if implemented in software exactly asdescribed in the figures, will have other message sets that they willneed to exchange with other functions including those which are outsideof the scope of this invention.

Message Set 1 (M1) 18 a is the set of messages that are used so that theRT and NRT Resource manager can assign a pool of current resources forRT calls so that the Real time scheduler (F2) has the information itneeds.

Message Set 2 (2) 20 a is the set of messages that are used so that theRT and NRT Resource Manager can know the current allocations to the RTusers. Given that RT allocations are usually static, these messages aretrivial unless severe congestion exists.

Message Set 3 (M3) 18 b is the set of messages that are used so that theRT and NRT Resource manager 18 can assign a pool of current resourcesfor all NRT allocations so that the Non-Real time scheduler (F3) has theinformation it needs so that it can allocate resources.

Message Set 4 (M4) 22 a is the set of messages that are used so that theRT and NRT Resource manager 18 can know the current allocations (i.e.the results or measurements of the allocations) to the NRT users. Sinceresources are assigned periodically due to bursty traffic, this feedbackis important so that the RT and NRT Resource Manager 18 can alleviateany congestion caused by a temporary (or even more than temporary)congestion due to over-subscription.

Message Set 5 (M5) 20 b is the set of messages to tell the layer one(physical layer) about the allocation of resources to a user for RTservices.

Message Set 6 (M6) 22 b is the set of messages to tell the layer one(physical layer) about the allocation of resources to a user for NRTservices.

FIG. 2, it should be noted that the M1-M4 message sets are internal tothe RNC since the RT and NRT Resource Manager and the RT and NRTschedulers are also located in the RNC. The message sets M5 and M6 aresent as part of standardized Iub messages.

The diagram of FIG. 2 shows the addition of the HS-DSCH channels tohandle NRT services. Note that for the new HS-DSCH the Non Real timescheduler 26 is moved to the Node B, and message set 3 (18 a) is nowsent over the standardized Iub interface and note that Message set 4 isomitted. This means that the RT and NRT Resource manager does not haveany feedback from the Non Real Time Scheduler to allow it to balancetraffic between RT and NRT service or provide input into the calladmission control functions involving NRT services.

The diagram of FIG. 3 shows the HS-DSCH incorporating the presentinvention. The new messages M4, 26a.sup.1 defined over the standardizedIub interface would allow for the RT and NRT Resource manager to getfeedback to provide proper traffic balancing and call admission control.The new message set M4 will be defined in a similar manner as otherphysical layer measurements in the Node B, which is prior art. As perthe prior art, the CRNC can schedule the reporting and desired averagingover time to fulfill its needs. As was pointed out above, examples ofthe basic questions that the data service needs to answer, one exampleis how well is the quality of service (QoS) fulfilled? In this aspectthe Node B knows how many times it attempted to transmit data until itwas successfully received and thus knows the actual rate data wastransmitted at any one time. This is a different value than the dataactually transmitted by a user since a transmission that has to beretried several times will take up capacity of the channel each time itis transmitted even though the user has sent the data only once and thusonly counts once in determining how the user's QoS is fulfilled. Thepresent invention however, provides the required information.

Additionally, it knows other things such as the total power used by thehigh speed data service compared to the power used by other servicesoffered by the cell, which is an additional factor in knowing howefficiently the allocated power is being used vs. the amount of dataprocessed. There are many other potential measurements that the Node Bcan make that are useful in determining the quality of the high speeddata service. One example is the reliability of the received positive ornegative acknowledgements sent by the user to the Node B when data isreceived correctly or incorrectly.

Other questions that this type of data can answer are:

-   -   (a) How well are the overall resources utilized by the two types        of services?    -   (b) Are the resources split optimally between dedicated and data        services given the current usage/demand of each service? The        Node B for this question knows how efficiently the users data        was transmitted. For example, one Node B that has more        retransmissions than another Node B cannot handle as much user        data as the other Node B is able to do.    -   (c) How much does it cost the overall system performance by        adding a user of a certain QoS requirement to the cell? The Node        B, to answer this question, can estimate the available resources        that are available to a new user given the answers above on the        overall resource utilization.

Therefore, since the Node B has all of this information which isnecessary to perform these functions, and given that it is not efficientto make an architectural change to move all of the C-RNC resourceallocation to the Node B for both dedicated and all data services, it isextremely valuable that the Node B must report these parameters to theC-RNC to allow the C-RNC to incorporate this information together withother information it has on DCH and DSCH resources to allow it to makeoptimal resource allocation decisions. A list of the potentialinformation would be desirable to pass from the Node B to the C-RNCmeasured either for the cell in its entirety or by the priority class ofthe user is: the amount of data successfully transmitted per unit timein a measure such as the number of blocks of data or the size of theactual data transmitted. Also included in the list are: the number ofsuccessful transmissions; successful in the first transmission;successful in the second transmission; successful in the thirdtransmission; the number of unsuccessful transmissions; abandoned in thefirst transmission; abandoned in the second transmission; abandoned inthe third transmission; total failures; usage of each modulation scheme;performance of soft handover situations vs. normal situations; ACK/NAKreception quality errors; and power usage for HSDPA transmissions.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that variouschanges can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention, which is defined by the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless device comprising: circuitryconfigured to receive a first allocation of power associated with atleast one real time service from a radio network controller; circuitryconfigured to derive a second allocation of power associated with atleast one non-real time service; and circuitry configured to determinephysical channels for use in transmitting high speed packet data of auser based on the first allocation of power and the second allocation ofpower.
 2. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising: circuitryconfigured to receive physical channel assignment information from theradio network controller.
 3. The wireless device of claim 2, furthercomprising: circuitry configured to derive a set of physical channelsfor use in high speed packet data transmission from the receivedphysical channel assignment information.
 4. The wireless device of claim1, wherein the wireless device is a base station.
 5. The wireless deviceof claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a Node B.
 6. A methodcomprising: receiving, by a wireless device, a first allocation of powerassociated with at least one real time service from a radio networkcontroller; deriving, by the wireless device, a second allocation ofpower associated with at least one non-real time service; anddetermining, by the wireless device, physical channels for use intransmitting high speed packet data of a user based on the firstallocation of power and the second allocation of power.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: receiving, by the wireless device, physicalchannel assignment information from the radio network controller.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, further comprising: determining, by the wirelessdevice, physical channels for use in transmitting high speed packet dataof a user based on the received physical channel assignment information.9. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a base station.10. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a Node B.